Senior Director Manufacturing

NaturVet has been an industry leader in the development and manufacturing of natural pet supplements and other essential solutions for over 30 years. Our competitive advantage lies with our people, and we are committed to providing a safe and inclusive workplace, opportunities for advancement, and a healthy work-life balance. Located in Temecula, California, NaturVet is one of the largest pet supplement manufacturers in the United States. Our operations span four facilities within a two-mile radius, including two manufacturing facilities where we produce Soft Chews, Powders, Tablets, and Liquids for our trusted NaturVet brand and as private-label products for several high-profile companies.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Director of Manufacturing holds full leadership accountability for production operations and production planning across the Company’s two Temecula manufacturing facilities. Reporting to the COO, this role owns manufacturing results — safety, quality, service, schedule attainment, productivity, labor and overhead management, capacity, and continuous improvement — across Soft Chews and Tablet, Liquid, and Powder manufacturing, and is expected to run the function with a high degree of autonomy. The Director leads the Production Manager and the Production Planner/Scheduler and is responsible for approximately 85 production associates across 2 shifts. Near-term priorities include evaluating and stabilizing current operations, strengthening production leadership and execution, improving the effective use of the ERP system, and building the people, processes, and capacity needed to support future growth. On an ongoing basis, the Director sets manufacturing operating strategy, leads capital and automation investment from business case through benefit realization, and serves as the senior manufacturing voice with Quality, Supply Chain, Product Development, Maintenance, and Safety, with customers and auditors, and in parent-company operational reviews, ensuring manufacturing consistently meets operational, customer, and SQF regulatory requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead production operations and planning across both manufacturing facilities, with accountability for safety, quality, service, productivity, cost, and schedule attainment. Evaluate and stabilize current operations while improving processes, production planning, capacity, ERP utilization, and performance reporting. Lead and develop the Production Manager and Production Planner/Scheduler while strengthening production leadership, training, career progression, culture, and succession readiness. Own the manufacturing labor and overhead budget and lead approved capital, automation, and operational improvement projects. Partner with Maintenance to improve equipment reliability and with Product Development and Quality to successfully commercialize new and reformulated products. Serve as the senior manufacturing representative during customer visits, audits, and parent-company operational reviews. Ensure manufacturing operations consistently meet safety, GMP, SQF, quality, and regulatory requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS

12+ years of progressively responsible manufacturing experience, including leadership through managers and front-line teams. Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred. Equivalent combinations of education, experience, and relevant certifications preferred. Experience leading multi-site or complex manufacturing operations with a high degree of autonomy. Experience in food, dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, or another regulated manufacturing environment; SQF experience strongly preferred. Demonstrated success stabilizing operations, developing leaders, and improving manufacturing performance. Experience with ERP transitions or optimization, production planning, capital projects, automation, and continuous improvement. Compensation: $175,000–$195,000 annual base salary + 20% target annual management incentive* Employment Type: Full-time, exempt, on-site in Temecula, CA; not eligible for remote work Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D, supplemental coverage, employee product discount, 401(k) with Company match, and paid time off *Subject to the terms of the plan A complete job description is available upon request. Please contact Human Resources if you would like additional information about the position. #J-18808-Ljbffr NaturVet